Switch construction



Aug. 20, 11129.; RB. BENJAMIN Y, 1',725.,60 swITcH CONSTRUCTION v Fugamay 18, 192s lz sheets-sha 1 .-Augg 2o, 1929.

R. B. BENJAMIN SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May l, 1925 3 SheetsfSheet 2 R.B. BENJAMIN Aug. 20, 929.

SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lia/@Wwf PWM 1y3M Z Patented Aug. 2o, 1929.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMINMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION N OIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC OF ILLI- sWITcH CONSTRUCTION. Y

Application led May 18, 1925. Serial No. 30,946.

My invention relates to switch construction.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a flat type of switchwhich will be suitable for use in a shallow box.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch which will bedurable and eicient. ,Further objects will appear from the descriptionand claims.

In the drawings, in which my invention is illustrated Figure 1 is afront view showing the switch and fuses in position in a shallow box;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fi 3 'is a view simliar to Fig. 1, but showin t e switch open;

ig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Figisa section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1

Figs.' 6 and 7 are views showing the action of the switch lever andassociated parts;

Figsisa section on the line 8-8 of Fig. l; Fig. 9'is asection on theline 9-9 of Fig. 1;

y 1 10 isa perspective view of the actuating slide.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the construction shown thereincomprises an insulating base 1, terminal lugs 2 for the' lineconnections, cartridge fuses 3 between the -ftermina-ls, and a doublepole, double break Yllt-switch construction for controlling the cir-Guit between the terminals.

The switch construction shown comprises a pair of switch arms 4, eachpivotally mounted intermediate its ends, a reciprocable actuating slide5 movable back and forth between the switch arms 4, a'pair of insulatinglinks 6 pivotally connecting the slide with the switch armsrespectively, a manually operable switch lever 7 oscillatable back andforth, and a tension spring 8 connecting the switch lever 7 with theactuating slide 5.

The actuating slide 5 is provided with a pair of detent and positioningrollers 9, the slide being provided with two pairs of depressions 10,one pair cooperating with each roller.

In operation, when the switch lever 7 is moved from the position shownin Fi 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7, the tenslon of the spring holdsthe slide 5 upwardly against the rollers 9, each of which is seated inone ofthe depressions in the slide, and the oo-ection of the springrollers .and depressions is such that the rollers hold the slide againstmovement until the switch lever has been moved far enough to causeconsiderable spring pressure to be exerted in a direction to cause theslide to move to the' right. When the spring tensionI has accumulatedsufli ciently to move the slide against the holding action of therollers, the slide moves with a uick snap action to the position shownin ig. 7. This lateral movement of the slide necessitates a slightdownward movement also to permit the slide to escape from the holdingaction of the rollers. When the switch lever moves from the full lineposition shown in Fig. 7 to the full line position shown in Fig. 6, asimilar snap action of the actuating slide takes place due to theco-action between the detent rollers and the two lefthand depressions.This sna action of the slide of course indicates a quic snap action tothe two switch arms 4.

Any suitable interlocking construction may be provided between theswitch lever and the hinged cover 11 so that the switch cannot be closedwhen the cover 11 is open, or the cover opened when the switch isclosed. In the construction shown, opening of the door is prevented whenthe switch is closed b the engagement of the switch lever 7 wit thecover 11. Similarlyfwhen the switch is open it is prevented from beingclosed so lon as the cover 11 is open by the engagement ofthel edge ofthe slot in the cover with the switch lever 7.

Each of the oscillatable switch arms comprise a pair of switch blades 12(Figs. 8 and 9) for engagement with oppositesides, respectively, of thecooperating fixed contacts 13, a plurality of spacers 14 intermediatethese switch blades 12, a pair of leaf springs 15 bearing on thefblades12, respectively, tending to force the blades toward each other, and apair of screws- 16 extending through the leaf springs and switch bladesand threaded into nuts 17 for adjustably holding the leaf springspressing against the switch blades. Each switch arm is oscillat ablymounted on a bushing 18 secured to the insulating base 1 by means of ascrew 19 and lock-nuts 20. v

The fixed contacts 13 are provided with bevelled edges 21 to facilitatethe engagement of the switch arms therewith.

Each cartridge fuse is provided with. a pair of contact clip devices,each of these contact veo pendio clip devices comprising in addition toone of the switch contact members 13 previously referred to, a U-shapedleaf spring member 22 and an L-shaped clamping member 23. The contacttip 24 of thev cartridge fuse enters between the switch contact member13 and the leaf spring member 22 and is yieldingly and clampingly heldagainst the fuse contact by means of the L-shaped clamping member 23 andthe clamping screw 24 and nut 25.

While I have described but one embodi- Ament of my invention it isobvious that many modifications therein may occur to those skilled intheart, and I desire, therefore, that m invention be limited only by thescope o the appended claims and by the prior art.

Having described my invention what l claim as new and desire tosecure byLetters Patent of the United States is:

1. A switch construction comprising a mounted to swin about axesperpendicular to the plane of t e base and common means forsimultaneously actuating said switch arms, said common means comprisinga member slidable in a general plane parallel to the plane of the baseand connectlons hetween said slidable member and said switch arms,respectively.

2. A switch construction comprising a flat base and a double pole switchhaving a pair of switch arms which are oscillatably mounted to swingaboutV axes perpendicular to the plane of the base and common means forsimultaneously actuating said switch arms, said common means ycomprisinga member slidable in a general plane parallel to the plane of the baseand a pair of links pivotally connecting said slidable member and saidswitch arms, respectively. v A

3. A switch construction comprising a flat base and a double ole switchhaving a pair of switch arms w ich are respectively os cillatabl mountedto swing about axes perpendicu ar to the plane of the base, common means'for simultaneously actuating said switch arms comprisinga membermovable in a, plane parallel to's'aid base, a movable p spring foractuating said member, and a releasable holding member for holding saidmember against movement during art of the spring movement, which when reeased, ermits a snap action of the spring andvmem er. 4. A switchconstruction comprising ,a Hat base and a double ole switch having apair of switch arms w ich are respectively oscillatabl ulyar to theplane of the base and common me'ans for simultaneously actuating said-awitch arms','said common means comprisin a member shdable in a generalplane paralle to the plane of the base, a manually operated mounted toswing about axes permenace sure on those portions of the movable contactf blades which engage the stationary blade, and means for adjusting thespringpressure comprising a screw extending through said movable contactblades and springs at a point VVbetween the pivot-al mounting of thebla-des and end bearing portions of the leaf spring.

6. A switch construction comprising a stationary contact blade, a pivotpin, a pair of contact blades pivoted on said pivotfpin and movable as aunit, the ends of said 'igiovable blades straddling the stationary bladewhen the switch is in on position, and a pair of leaf springs embracingbetween them the pivotally mounted blades and movable therewith andexerting yielding pressure on those portions Vof the movable contactblades which engage the stationary blade` said pivotal pin extendingthrough said leaf spring.

7.' A switch construction comprising a hat base, a pair of switchblades, respectively oscillatably mounted to swing about axes perpendicular to the plane of the hase, an operating switchleveroscillatable about an parallel to the base and transmission from' saidswitch lever to each of said switch blades.

8. A switch construction comprising a flatb'ase, a pair of switch arms`oscillatably mounted thereomeach switch arm being pivoted intermediateits ends, two pairs of stationary contacts, one pair for each end of theswitch arm whereby each switch arm eects a double break in series, andcommon means for simultanenously actuating both said switch armscomprising a member slidable in a plane parallel to the plane of thebase and connections between said slidable member and' p said switcharms, respectively.

9. A switch construction comprising a.' switch blade, a shiftable memberhaving a recess therein for actuating said blade, an acy tuating member,a spring connecting said fv Y actuating member and shiftahle member anda roller detentengaging the recess in sai p y, shiftable member, saidspring tending to holdv y y said shiftable member against said roller inone position of the actuating-member but actin in a direction whichreleases said shifta le member from said roller detent when theactuating member has been moved a predetermined amount.

10. A switch construction comprising a l l switch blade, a shi'ftablemember having a recess therein for actuating said blade, an actuatingmember, a spring connecting said actuating member and shiftable member,and a roller detent engaging the recess in said shiftable member, saidspring tending to hold said shiftable member against said roller in oneposition of the actuating member but acting in a direction whichreleases said shiftable member from said roller detent when theactuating member has been moved a predetermined amount, said actuatingmember engaging said shiftable member to give it a positive release ifthe spring action ails to release it.

11. A switch construction comprising a v switch blade, a shiftablemember having a recess thereinfor actuating said blade, an

actuating member, a spring connecting said actuating member andshiftable member, and a roller detent enga 'ng the recess in saidshiftable member, sai spring tending to hold said shitable memberagainst said ro'ller in one position of the actuating member but actingin a direction which releases said shiftable member from said rollerdetent when the actuatin member has been moved a predeterminef amount,said actuating member enagingsa'id shiftable member to press it away Immsaid roller and release it if the spring action fails to release it.

12. A switch construction comprising a pair of stationary contactblades, a pair of contact blades pivotally mounted intermediate theirends and movable as a unit so that their ends straddle said stationaryblades and a pair of leaf springs straddling said movable blades andmovable therewith and extending substantially7 from end to end thereofand having end bearing portions exerting yielding pressure on thoseportions of said movable 'blades which engage the stationary blades andmeans for ad]usting the spring pressure comprising lscrews extendingthrough said movable blades and springs at points between said pivotalmounting and the said end bearing portions.

13. A switch construction comprising' a pair of stationa contact blades,a pair of contact blades pivotally mounted intermediate their ends andmovable as a unit so that their ends straddle said stationary blades anda pair of'leaf springs straddling said movable blades and movabletherewith and'extending substantially from` end to end thereof andhaving end bearing portions exertin yielding pressure on thoseportions'of sai movable blades which engage the stationary blades andmeans for adjusting the spring pressure coxlprising screws extendingthrough said movable blades and springs at points between said pivotalmounting and the said end bearing portions and means for pivotallymounting said movable blades comprisin a pivotal pin extending throughsaid movab e blades and s rings.

In witness whereo scribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

, I have hereunto sub-

